Thoughts on Rudeness

It's not a slam at you when people are rude, it's a slam at the people they've met before. 

-Tennessee Williams

I have recently relocated to the beautiful capital city of Madison, Wisconsin. It has everything you could possibly want: cheese, fresh produce, beautiful lakes, awesome bike trails, tons of little shops, and microwbrews aplenty [if beer happens to be your "thing"].  Having grown up in family deeply rooted in the Midwest, I had high hopes that the Sconnies [a term I recently picked up on] who I encountered would be relatively polite and friendly, at least generally more polite and pleasant than strangers I met in DC. I was looking forward to being around a more easy-going and generally happier population of people.

Boy, was I surprised when people rudely shouted lewd and unintelligible comments at me from their car windows [this has now happened twice in less than a week].

Ramblings on simpler things

This summer, I have had a long-overdue break from the hassles of academia, the lovely 20-somethings who woke me up at all hours in Georgetown, and the endless concerns about "what comes next." While this respite could prove quite dull for some, I've found myself filling up my days with worthwhile ventures.

For example, every day, I have been completing the New York Times crossword puzzle [something that I've never done before]. Of course, I am terrible at crosswords and consistently rely on my mother and father for help, but it is nevertheless a most rewarding quotidian venture. I have also been hunting around  vintage furniture shops and secondhand stores around St. Louis for furniture for my apartment. It's quite a thrill to find a 1950's kitchen table in mint condition [yes, it's perfect!]. It's even fun to find a bookshelf [for $10!!!] that is transformed to "better than new" after a fresh coat of paint.

Surprisingly, I've found the task of finding and fixing up furniture to be the most rewarding task of them all [believe me, I was not eager to fix furniture up when my mother first suggested it would be a "fun" task].

New Look, Same Thoughts

For months now, I've been debating how to get my blog to feel/look how I want it to...I have finally settled on this new layout [and the new address...abcsoffemininity.blogspot.com]. I think it improves readability and will make it easier for readers to browse and interact with the site. You may notice the new tabs under the blog title ["Random Thoughts," "Fashion," "Manners," etc.]. These tabs will be update weekly with new & quick tips, links to articles, or entertaining thoughts pertaining to their denoted contents---the goal is to develop a list in each page that will be a quick and helpful reference on important topics pertaining to femininity [especially random thoughts]. The "Home" page will remain the place of all blog posts; pages under tabs will be used for  shorter length thoughts and ideas.

I am also playing with the idea of having guests blog occasionally...Let me know if you're interested in sharing your thoughts!

Finally, be on the lookout for a new blog post in the next few days...I hope you enjoy the new look : - )

Happy 100th Birthday, International Women's Day!

As I browsed the news for feminist-inspired stories, I came across several editorials where the authors reflected on precisely how they came about to realize and embrace their feminist identities. Many women reflected on how they have had to defend their feminist status in light of their religious affiliations; others reflected on how they understand the modern idea of a feminist to greatly stray from the meaning of "feminist" at the liberation movement's inception. While I could ramble about my own feminist struggles, I feel like this blog does most of that for me. So, in honor of the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day (March 8), I am simply going to share the details of another woman whose life journey I find to bee oozing with feminism, femininity, and faith (three parts of my own life that I find to be inseparable and integral to my personality and perspective). Understanding the struggles and lives of preceding women can be a source of strength and knowledge for ladies today trying to sort out their ideals and determining what to do next.

Edith Stein's life and works are truly inspirational and thought-provoking, and I believe she can serve as a source of strength to all young ladies today.